Xbox game studio head Alan Hartman will step down at the end of November, ending his 30-year tenure at Microsoft. His successor was Craig Duncan, head of studios at Rare, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2002. Upon Duncan’s eventual departure from the studio, Joe Neate and Jim Horse will take over as co-leaders of Rare. An internal memo seen by The Verge reads:
In his new role, Craig will help our studios deliver high-quality, differentiated game experiences, grow into successful franchises by investing in new IP, and help us reach more players. We will continue to focus on this. Craig will report to me and join the game content and studio leadership team, working closely with Alan during the transition period. The existing XGS leadership team established by Alan will remain and report to Craig.
We are also pleased to announce that Joe Neat and Jim Horse will be co-leaders of Rare. Their leadership has played a critical role in Rare’s growth, and I am confident they will take the studio and its games to even greater heights.
What’s interesting is that Hartman has only been in charge of Xbox Game Studios for less than a year. Hartman led Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 for nearly 20 years before being brought in last year to replace former Xbox Games Studio head Matt Booty. His departure is a bit surprising, but since it wasn’t due to any internal controversy, it’s likely that he just wants to retire after 30 years at Microsoft.
The leadership change comes about a month after Microsoft laid off 650 employees. These job cuts are related to the company’s decision to acquire Activision Blizzard in 2022. Although no games have been canceled, this change in leadership could mean a change in future plans for Xbox Game Studios.
